Team Herald
ALDONA: Illegal sand extraction continues to be carried out in Aldona. There are videos and photographs circulating on social media, which clearly show sand being extracted from the river at Quitla, Aldona.
Residents fear that the depletion of sand in the river bed will have an adverse effect and lead to irreversible ecological damage. The rampant sand extraction is being carried out fearlessly from the last six months.
The locals are angry over the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned. Trucks carrying sand are seen plying along the Aldona-Nachinola-Moira-Mapusa route on a daily basis.
A local resident on condition of anonymity pointed out that this activity could lead to a natural disaster and also affect the normal course of the river which could either lead to river erosion or flooding during the monsoon.
“If any permission is granted then it should be displayed at the site, which is not being done. Since the beginning of the year, sand mining is being carried out on a large scale, but the authorities concerned seem to be turning a blind eye towards it,” he said.
